Exercised-induced increase in lipid peroxidation parameters in amenorrheic female athletes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine plasma lipid peroxidation parameters in eumenorrheic and amenorrheic athletes and to evaluate differences in their response to exercise-induced oxidative stress. In female athletes, intense physical exercise has been shown to be associated with an increased occurrence of menstrual dysfunction with lower levels of E2. Recently, a protective role has been demonstrated for estrogens as free radical scavengers.


METHODS
Comparison of eumenorrheic and amenorrheic athletes before and after an acute bout of exercise.


METHODS
Academic Research Environment.


METHODS
Seven eumenorrheic (normally menstruating) and seven amenorrheic (<3 menses/year) female athletes aged 18 to 35 years participating in regular training.


METHODS
Plasma and low-density lipoprotein oxidation parameters, plasma E2 and vitamin E levels, and creatine kinase activity.


RESULTS
Both the amenorrheic and eumenorrheic athletes demonstrated a significant decrease in the lag time of conjugated diene formation after exercise (P < 0.01), with greater magnitude of change occurring in the amenorrheic athletes (P < 0.05). In addition, postexercise samples from amenorrheic (but not eumenorrhic) athletes showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase in oxysterol formation as compared to baseline values. Amenorrheic athletes also demonstrated a significantly higher baseline creatine kinase activity and a nonsignificant (P = 0.04) trend of an increase in creatine kinase activity after exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study shows that amenorrheic female athletes demonstrate an increased potential for lipid peroxidation after exercise. This could be related to lower plasma E2 levels in this group, considering the strong free radical scavenging ability of estrogens identified recently.
Ayres
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio 45267-0540, USA.
Baer
J
J
Subbiah
M T
MT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013177:Sports
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D004958:Estradiol; D003402:Creatine Kinase